A particular form of tomato paste could provide a significant level of protection against prostate cancer, scientists have found.
Researchers at the University of Missouri believe that an organic carbohydrate present in dehydrated tomato products, called fruhis, protects against the disease.
The team injected rats with cancer-causing chemicals and fed them on a diet that included tomato paste, tomato powder, or tomato paste with added fruhis.
Survival was longest in animals fed on tomato paste plus fruhis, and fewer of these animals developed prostate tumours.
Commenting on the findings, which are published in the journal Cancer Research, researcher Dr Valeri Mossine said: "Before this study, researchers attributed the protective effect of tomatoes to ascorbic acid, carotenoids, or phenolic compounds.
"Fruhis may represent a novel type of potential dietary antioxidant. Experiments like these suggest that a combination of fruhis and lycopene should be investigated as a potential therapeutic anti-tumour agent, not just a prevention strategy."
A particular form of tomato paste could provide a significant level of protection against prostate cancer, scientists have found.
